# Order of the Stick - Book 5 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323 "2009-08-31T04:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 97
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1921 "2011-04-07T23:21:10Z")
Only on the Dope could a 39 page (and counting) discussion of a web comic evolve into a debate on double-entry bookkeeping. “Their every move makes my victory more complete.” Sounds like a [Xanatos Gambit](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XanatosGambit) to me. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1922 "2011-04-11T16:40:01Z")
[New one is up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0786.html)! We’ll also accept “ground into a fine powder”. And for the record, this is the first time that I was made aware of a new comic by an OOTS facebook post rather than this thread. Either they’re getting more on the ball, or we’re slipping. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1923 "2011-04-11T16:42:32Z")
So, I guess the question is, why WAS Belkar interested in saving those bounty hunter’s lives? What’s in it for him? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1924 "2011-04-11T16:56:08Z")
Nothing. It’s a genuine alignment change. Poor bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1925 "2011-04-11T16:56:16Z")
I don’t get the strip title… ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1926 "2011-04-11T17:02:10Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > I don’t get the strip title… D&D groups creatures into size categories. “Diminutive” is the second smallest category. The smallest? “Fine.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1927 "2011-04-11T17:10:40Z")
WTF is that in the 2nd to last panel? A mechanical knight? A golem? A crazed psycho killer who needs to be locked up (for his own good and that of others) until he’s unleashed into the arena? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1928 "2011-04-11T17:18:30Z")
Looks like the last option. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1929 "2011-04-11T18:06:28Z")
I still think it’s going to end up being someone we already know. I have no real idea who, though. Possibly Thog. Maybe not. But it’s not Burlew’s style to have a “masked” antagonist who is a total stranger. At least at this point in the story. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1930 "2011-04-11T18:13:28Z")
Either it’s someone we know, or it’s something that if he/she/it were unmasked D&D-savvy readers would say "Oh no! That looks like a _\_. " ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1931 "2011-04-11T19:56:30Z")
It’s the guy from the poster (last panel) [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0741.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0741.html) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1932 "2011-04-11T20:01:05Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It’s the guy from the poster (last panel) > [741 Scheduling Conflict - Giant in the Playground Games](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0741.html) Well, yeah…but WHO IS IT is the question we’re asking. As in, who’s under the helmet? ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1933 "2011-04-11T20:25:53Z")
Am I the only one who has felt like Rich has been dragging this storyline on a little too long? I’m really eager to find out what’s going on with Xykon. Also, Haley hasn’t said more than a few words for like 12 strips. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1934 "2011-04-11T22:36:23Z")
The bloody axe is a telltale sign or barbarianship. Maybe one of Thog’s relatives ? Thog’s daddy ? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1935 "2011-04-12T01:51:11Z")
It’s Tarquin. Yeah, I know Tarquin (or his cleverly disguised alter ego!) is up in the stands. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1936 "2011-04-12T01:53:53Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > It’s Tarquin. Yeah, I know Tarquin (or his cleverly disguised alter ego!) is up in the stands. That’s a possibility I thought of, too. If we get a tell-tale shot of the reviewing box and Tarquin’s not in his seat, it’s a slam-dunk. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1937 "2011-04-12T02:06:25Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Either it’s someone we know, or it’s something that if he/she/it were unmasked D&D-savvy readers would say "Oh no! That looks like a _\_. " Two words: Gaze Attack.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1938 "2011-04-12T14:48:55Z")
Not having read _Start of Darkness_, could the big bad champion be a relative of the MITD? I actually think it’s Thog, but the Tarquin idea is interesting too… ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1939 "2011-04-12T14:56:53Z")
I don’t think it could be a relative of the MITD – the MITD (or CITD) seems to be a very young one of its kind and appears larger than the Champ here, based on where its eyes are placed. I wonder about Thog; he’s quite a good fighter, but is he ferocious and strong enough to be the unknown fighter here? I can’t think of anyone else we’ve already encountered who could be in that armor. I suppose we’ll know soon enough. ::drums fingers impatiently:: ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1940 "2011-04-12T15:01:21Z")
If it is Thog, they can distract him with puppies and ice cream. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=96) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=98)